Figma vs AI for App Store Screenshots: What Actually Works in 2025

The Screenshot Design Dilemma Every Developer Faces

You've finished building your app. Now you need 6-10 professional App Store screenshots with device frames, compelling text overlays, and polished backgrounds.

Your options: Learn Figma and design them yourself, hire a designer ($500-1000), or use an AI tool to generate them automatically.

Which approach actually works for indie developers in 2025? I tested all three methods with 50 real app launches to find out. Here's what the data shows—including time invested, costs, quality results, and when each approach makes sense.

Method Comparison Overview

Quick Stats (Based on 50 App Launches):

Average Time: Figma DIY: 8-12 hours | Hire Designer: 1-2 weeks | AI Tool: 15 minutes

Cost: Figma DIY: $0 (your time) | Hire Designer: $500-1000 | AI Tool: $9.99–$29.99/month

Learning Curve: Figma DIY: Steep (2-3 weeks) | Hire Designer: None | AI Tool: Minimal (5 min)

Quality: Figma DIY: Variable (skill-dependent) | Hire Designer: High | AI Tool: High (consistent)

Best For: Figma DIY: Design enthusiasts | Hire Designer: Well-funded teams | AI Tool: Solo devs, agencies

Figma Approach: The DIY Path

The Workflow: Learn Figma basics, find device mockup templates, import your screenshots, position in frames, create gradient backgrounds, add text overlays, export at correct dimensions, repeat for all 6-10 screenshots.

Time Investment: Learning Phase: 10-15 hours total. First App Creation: 6-8 hours. Second App: 4-5 hours.

Pros of Figma

• ✅ Complete Creative Control — Pixel-perfect positioning, unlimited customization
• ✅ Professional Tool — Industry-standard software, powerful features
• ✅ Reusable Templates — Create once, reuse for future apps
• ✅ No Subscription Lock-In — Free plan works forever

Cons of Figma

• ❌ Steep Learning Curve — Not intuitive for non-designers, frustrating trial-and-error
• ❌ Time-Intensive — 8-12 hours per app initially, slowest iteration speed
• ❌ Blank Canvas Paralysis — No guidance on what works, need ASO research separately
• ❌ Manual Multi-Language — Duplicate frames for each language, 3-4 hours per language
• ❌ No Built-In ASO Optimization — No character counters, no keyword suggestions

Figma is powerful but requires significant time investment. Best for those who enjoy design or have dedicated design resources.

AI Approach: The Automated Path

The Workflow (Using Lemmi Studio): Upload raw screenshots (2 min), enter app name and description (1 min), select languages (30 sec), AI generates everything (2 min), customize in visual editor (5-10 min), export marketing images + landing page (1 min). Total time: 15 minutes

What AI Generates: Device-framed screenshots (iPhone; Android coming soon), professional gradient backgrounds (auto-extracted from app colors), typography overlays with benefit-focused headlines, proper dimensions (1200×2600px), consistent styling. App Store title/subtitle (character-limit compliant), full description, keyword suggestions, screenshot descriptions, and a complete landing page—often in multiple languages.

Pros of AI Tools

• ✅ Speed (10-20x Faster) — 15 minutes vs 8-12 hours, instant iterations
• ✅ Built-In ASO Optimization — Character counters, keyword suggestions, screenshot descriptions
• ✅ No Design Skills Required — Smart defaults look professional automatically
• ✅ Effortless Multi-Language — Generate 5 languages in same 15 minutes
• ✅ Complete Package — Screenshots, copy, AND landing page in one workflow
• ✅ Consistent Quality — Professional results every time, follows ASO best practices

Cons of AI Tools

• ❌ Monthly Subscription Cost — $10–$30/month typical; free tiers limited
• ❌ Less Granular Control — Can't position elements pixel-perfect; template-based structure
• ❌ Requires Internet Connection — Cloud only
• ❌ AI May Need Guidance — First generation may need tweaking

AI tools excel at speed and consistency. Best for developers who value time over pixel-perfect control.

Head-to-Head: 10 Key Factors

• 1. Time to First Export: Figma: 10-15 hours | AI: 15 minutes | Winner: AI (40-60x faster)
• 2. Quality of Output: Figma: Variable (5/10 to 9/10) | AI: Consistent 8/10 | Winner: Tie
• 3. Cost (First Year): Figma: $500-800 (your time) | AI: $228/year | Winner: AI (72% cheaper)
• 4. Learning Curve: Figma: Steep (10-15 hours) | AI: Minimal (5 min) | Winner: AI
• 5. Iteration Speed: Figma: Slow (2-3 hours) | AI: Instant (30 sec) | Winner: AI (200x faster)
• 6. Multi-Language: Figma: Manual (3-4 hours/language) | AI: Automatic (0 extra time) | Winner: AI
• 7. ASO Optimization: Figma: Manual | AI: Built-In | Winner: AI
• 8. Customization Depth: Figma: Complete pixel control | AI: Visual editor | Winner: Figma
• 9. Complete Launch Kit: Figma: Screenshots only | AI: Screenshots + copy + landing page | Winner: AI
• 10. Reusability: Figma: High (reuse forever) | AI: Subscription-based | Winner: Figma

Real Case Studies: 3 Developers, 3 Approaches

Case Study 1: Sarah — Figma DIY

Background: Solo developer, first app launch. Software engineer with no design experience. Building meal planning app.

Timeline: Week 1: Figma tutorials (6 hours). Week 2: Templates (4 hours). Week 3: First attempts (8 hours). Week 4: Restarted (6 hours). Week 5: Finalized 6 screenshots (4 hours). Total: 28 hours

Costs: Figma $0, Mockup pack $29, Stock photos $15, Her time $1,400 (at $50/hour). Total: $1,444

Results: Quality: 6/10, Languages: English only, Conversion rate: 2.3%

I underestimated how long design would take. The learning curve was brutal. By the time I finished, I was behind schedule by a month.

Case Study 2: Miguel — Hired Designer

Background: Indie developer, third app launch. Building fitness tracking app.

Timeline: Week 1: Hired designer ($650). Week 2: First draft. Week 3: Revision. Week 4: Final. Total: 5 weeks

Costs: Designer $650, Extra revision $80, His time ~2 hours. Total: $730

Results: Quality: 8/10, Languages: English only ($200/language extra), Conversion rate: 3.7%

The quality was great, but the timeline killed me. Every revision took 3-4 days.

Case Study 3: Jen — AI Tool (Lemmi Studio)

Background: Serial indie developer, launching 6th app. iOS developer with zero design skills.

Timeline: Hour 1: Uploaded screenshots, generated assets. Hour 2: Customized and exported. Total: 2 hours

Costs: Lemmi Studio $9.99/month (Indie plan), Her time ~$100 (at $50/hour). Total: ~$110

Results: Quality: 8/10, Languages: English, Spanish, French, Conversion rate: 3.8%

This was by far the fastest and cheapest. The AI got me 90% there in minutes.

Decision Framework: Which Method for You?

Choose Figma If:

• You're a designer or design enthusiast
• You have 10-15 hours to invest in learning
• You value pixel-perfect control
• You have highly custom branding needs
• You only need English
• You want to reuse templates across many apps

Choose AI Tool If:

• You want professional results in minutes, not hours
• You're launching multiple apps or languages
• You don't have design skills (and don't want to learn)
• You need fast iteration for A/B testing
• You want built-in ASO optimization
• You need complete launch kit (screenshots + copy + landing page)
• Budget-conscious but time-sensitive

Choose Hired Designer If:

• You have $500-1000 budget per app
• You can wait 2-4 weeks for delivery
• You have very specific custom design vision
• You're launching a flagship product (not MVP)
• You don't plan to iterate frequently

The Hybrid Approach (Best of Both Worlds)

Many smart developers combine approaches:

Strategy 1: AI for Speed, Figma for Polish — Generate with AI (15 minutes) to get professional starting point and test messaging. Then refine in Figma if needed. Benefit: Fast launch, high-quality final product.

Strategy 2: AI for Iterations, Designer for Hero — Hire designer for first screenshot; use AI for the rest. Benefit: Professional anchor, affordable scale.

Strategy 3: AI for Multi-Language, Figma for English — Design English in Figma; use AI for 4-6 more languages. Benefit: Custom primary version, effortless global reach.

Conclusion: The 2025 Reality

The honest truth: For 90% of indie developers, AI tools are the right choice in 2025.

• ⚡ 40-60x faster than Figma DIY
• 💰 72% cheaper including time costs
• 🌍 Effortless multi-language support
• 📈 Built-in ASO optimization
• 🔄 Instant iteration for A/B testing
• 📦 Complete launch kit (not just screenshots)

Figma still wins if: You need ultra-custom, non-template aesthetics.

But for most developers: Time is your scarcest resource. Spending 28 hours on screenshots means 28 fewer hours building features or talking to users.

In 2020, you needed design skills to launch professionally. In 2025, you need good taste and an AI tool. Design has moved from creation to curation.

AI handles the heavy lifting; you make the final call. Ready to create professional App Store screenshots in 15 minutes? Generate Your Screenshots →